Machine for grinding and polishing road scraper blades



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N0 Model.)

. G. W. TAPT. MAOHINE FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING ROAD SGRAPER BLADES, &c.

Patented Oct. 1.18'89.

y/ f k v I l M11 as s E" s Il fzely cur, (3 Of 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. W. TAFT. MACHINE FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING ROAD SGRAPER BLADES, &c.- No. 411,839. Patented Oct. 1, 1889.

M111 E55 s 4 a 5% V. 6 IIY'SfE'lfC m; /ZQQQW V A 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

G. W. MACHINE FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING ROAD SGRAPER BLADES, 8am.

TAFT:

Patented Oct. 1, 1889.

k Il v aly tnli GEORGE WARNER TAFI, or KENNETTSQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR GRlNDiNG-AND POLISHING ROAD-SC-RAFER BLADES, dc.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. Q1 1,839, dated October 1, 1889.

I Application filer! April 10, 1889. Serial No. 306,676. (No model.)

To all whom :it may concern: Belt known that I, GEORGE WARNER TAFT,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Kern.

nett Square, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new The object of mypresent invention is to provide a practical and efficient mechanism for grinding and polishing road-scrapcr blades and other large and heavy metal plates having curved orirregular shaped surfaces, and to improve the cbnstruction in grinding-pr polishing mechanism of the class named, so that the same will be better adapted for the purpose stated, convenient for attendance and operation in heavy works, elfectivc and flexible "for automaticallyfollowing the curvature of the platewith the grinding or polishing wheel, and having improved facilities for antomatically'feedingforward the plate, as required. These objects I attain bymecham ism the nature, construction, and operation of which ijs'explained in the following description, the particular subject-matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my improved machine arranged for grinding and polishingcurved road-scraper blades. Fig. 2 is a section at line 10 10 through the feed-carriage, looking toward the grindingwheel and its operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section or plan view of the machine at line .z -m, Fig. l. of the fecdway and the carriage-iced mechanism. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the carriage. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the feedway, the carriage, and the plate supported thereon. Figs. 7 and 8 show details of the supporting-bowlng that forms the connecting-jointbctween the swinging frame and tilting wheel-carrier. Fig. Elshowsayielding journabbox for supporting the grinder-shaft in connection with the end of the carrierframe. Figs. 10 and ll show modifications in Fig. 4 is a plan view the feed mechanism for propelling the can riage. Fig. 12 shows the detail of the inclined drop for throwing the feed-pawl outof engagement from'ihe' ratchet on the carriage.

In reference to'pzirts, A denotes the supporting-frame 0r swing-jack, consisting of two upright bars, which are suspended by suitable bearings aat their upper ends upon the overhead driving-shaft l which latter is supported in hanger-bearings from thc ceiling or roof-frame of the factory or in other suit-able manner. At or near the lower ends of the frame or swing-jack A there pivotally attached a tilting grinder carrier or frame 3, consisting of two .side pieces rigidly connected together with transoms, and provided at the rear end with suitable journal-boxes, in which rotates the horizontally-,disposed shaftfignvhereon ismounted the grinding or polishing wheel G. At the junction of the frames A and C an operating-shaft D is arranged, which shaft rotates in bearings A fixed on the frame A, and which in connection with the carrier-bearin gs forms the axis, pivoting-hinge, or fulcrum that connects the parts, and on which the grliuler-carricr U rocks, aifording' to the wheel G a rise and dip movement for following the curvature of the plate without variation in the relative position of the axis of the center shaft 1) as to its distance from the grinder-shaft G and driving-shaft B. The forward end of the carrierC is provided with handles 0,-

wherebysaid carrier can be rocked or tilted up and down by the attendant for raislngthe grinding-Wheel from the work or depressing it thereon. The tilting wheel-carrier can, if desired, be supported by bearings directly upon the shaft D; but preferably the bearings are made as shown in Figs. 7 and 8,

wherein the bearing-box A", attached to the swing-frame, is made with an extension, and a bearing-box'A is fixed on the side of the carrier-frame and supported on said extem sion of the shaft-bearing, so that the shaft D runs free in the bearing A',whilc the weight of the carrier-frame C- is borne by the onion-bearing A" instead of on theshal'i, and the parts can be freely tilted-without interl ering with or creating friction on the shaft D. A driving-pulley I) is mounted on the center shaft D, from which a belt g runs onto the pulley G2 of the grinder-shaft G. Tight and loose pulleys D are also arranged on said center shaft for the operating-belt B that runs from the driving-pulley B, fixed on the overhead shaft 'B, between the swing bars, as illustrated. A suitable belt-shipper d is attached to the carrier-frame C for shifting the belt B feed-carriage E, whereon the plate P, to be ground or polished, is supported. Said carplate Pin position thereon. g In the present instance the mechanism- 5 riage is best made, as shown in Fig. 5, removable from the tracks, and is'providedwit-h-a ratchetf, orother suitable means, whereby it can be fed forward at short intervalsasthe grinding or polishing proceeds. Dogseare providedon the carriage for retaining the shown for advancing the carriage F consists of a'reclprocating barv H, having the spring pawl h fixed thereon, said bar being connected or linked to a swinging lever K, arranged to be operated by the lower end of the 'swingjack A, as indicated in Fig. 4, or in other equivalent manner.

The reciprocating bar H is mounted on a sliding frame I, having at its c ined recesses 71, as illustrated in Figs."2","'4,'

ends projections thatare supported in inand 12. Said frame is connected to a shifting-.leVer'I', whereby it can be moved longitudinally to carry its supporting projections to either end of the inclined recesses 1'. When said shifting-lever and frame are at a position with the supports at the high end of the. inclines, as indicated on the drawings, 'thea";grinding-wheel on either of its ends, and

pawih on the reciprocating bar is in engagement with theratchet f for feeding forward the carriage F. in the direction shown by'the arrow on Fig's. 3 and 4 as the bar H reciprocates;

- but when the lever I v :is shifted to the position-indicated by the 'do'tte'd line P'on' Fig. 4 then the supports of the frame I are carried to tlieflew'iver end of the inclines, (see dotted lines, Fig. 12,) and the reciprocating bar with the spring pawl is thereby dropped. sulficien tly to prevent the pawl engaging the ratch .et-tee'th' on the carriage, thus stopping the forward-feeding action.-

Swinging motion is imparted to the frames A and carrier G. for passing the grinder-wheel back and forth over the surface of the plate. This inthe present instance is effected by means of crank-wheels L and connecting-rods L' The crank-wheels are mounted on a shaft that turns in bearings on a suitable frame M at the rear of the feedway, this shaft being parallel with theigrinder-shaft and the wh eels provided with wrist-pins or cranksl from which two connecting-rods L extend to the sides of the frame A, to which they are pivoted at a. The crank-wheels are gears and are operated by pinions from an operatorshaft M, having tight and loose pulleys M m to stop and start-the swinging action of the I grinding mechanism. The crank-pins Z are preferably adjustable for varying'the length of their throws. If desired, cams or any other suitable mechanisni may be used in place of cranksfor.reciprocati.ng the connectingrods L. I

. A suit-able stop or dogging device 0 is pro- 'vided for retaining the carrier 0 in tilted position with the grinding-wheel raised or. ele- -vated away from the work when desired.

The grinding-wheel can be made to bear .upon the work with greater or less force by adding weight upon one end of the carrierframe, so as to give greater or less preponderance to thatend of said frame on which the grinder-shaft is mounted. The weights can be confined 'thereon by a stud, as at V, orby other suitable means. 1 Thejournal-boxes for the grinder-shaft can be fixed rigidly on the carrier-frame, or they can be constructed for yielding action, as pre ferred'. In the latter: case the journal-box R is provided with a stud or spindle R, that ex tends through the frame, (see Fig. 9,)- and has arrahged in connection therewith springs S and S above and below the frame. One of said springs is arranged between the journalbox' and a platc'fixed on the under-sideof the carrier-frame, and the other spring vis arranged between a not or washer won the stud or n'eckR' and a-plate fixed on the top of the carrier-frame, the springs thus acting in either direction and taking the shock-and jar i ofthe grinding. 1 I

The grinder-shaft is best arranged for using such wheels may be'nsed on one or both ends, as desired; 4 Y

. In lieu of a reci-procating'bar with the pawl and ratchet, as shown, for "moving the car- .riage a shaftt can beextended longitudi- .nally.alongthe-feedway and provided with a worm-screw T to engage with a rack f on the I carriage F, as in Fig. 11,-tl1e carrier being advanced by rotation of said worm-screw; or,

again, if preferred, a drive-chain V, running around sprocket wheels V at the ends of the feedwa'y, can be employed, the carriage F in this case being-provided with a grip or dog f 2 for engagement with and disengagement from said chain for starting andstopping the feed. In this case' a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism. can be connected with a sprocketwheel for moving the chain V'forward, as indicated in Fig. 10.

In the operation of the machine. the scraper movement of the wheel until it has ground sufficiently far onto the end of the plate to avoid any liability of running off or derangenient. He then releases the handles and allows the machine to run automatically until it has ground the surface to the opposite edge of the plate. The frame A swings back and forth with a pendulous motion, while the tilting of the grinder-carrier C allows the grinding-wheel to'rise and fall to accommodate the curvature or variations in the surface of the plate, the carriage being automatically moved forward by its feed mechanism at each sueccssive increment of the grinder-wheei across the surface. When itis desired to change the plates, the attendant shifts the belts to the loose pulleys, presses down the handles of the carrier-frame, thereby lifting the grinding-wheel up out of the way, and throws in the dog-bar 0 for supporting it in position, and then, by throwing over the lever, drops the pawl from the ratehet,'releasing the carriage so that it can be; run back or forward clear from the grinder to a position where the finished plate can conveniently be removed and another plate put in its place.

In practice two or more grinding-machines of the kind shown are arranged in relation to each other at positions substantially as indicated by Figs. 3 and 4.. A single feedWayE extends across "bjoth machines, so that the work-supporting carriages can move forward the entire distancefor transferring the plates direct from one grinder .to the. other. The

first grinding mechanism is provided with acoarse grindingwheel for roughing oil the surface of the plates, and the following. mechanism with a finer grinding-wheel for finishing or polishing the surface. "With this arrangement of grinding mechanism, plates can be placed on the carriage atone end of the fecdway, their surfaces ground and polished, and then removed"from the carriage at the other end of the fcedway without interniediale handling of the heavy plates. The carriage being a comparatively light skeleton frame can then be readily taken up and carried back to the first end of the feedway for receiving another plate. In this-way, with two or more carriages, successive plat-es can be worked forward one afteranothexgand the surl'ace-Iinishing performed in aver-y noni'cm ienl, easy, and expeditious manner.

It will be understood that I do not claim,- ln-qadly, a suing-frame for supporting a grinding or polishing wheehns swing-frames in diffcrent forms have been common and well known in the art previous to my present in- \ulltiOll. Y

,What i claim as of my invention, to be secared by Letters .la1en1.isv 1. In a machine for the purpose specified, the combination of the swinging bars, aeontrally-pivoted upwardly and downwardly yielding grinder-carrier disposed between the lower ends thereof, and an intermittentlymovable work-supporting carriage mounted on tracks that extend laterally beneath the end of said carr-ierpvith feed mechanism actuated from said swing-bars for advancing said carriage synchronously with the vibrations of the swinging grinder, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the carrier-frame, its side bars. having the bearings it of the grinder-shaft mounted at one end thereof and provided with handles'a at the opposite end and-pivotally supported to afford tilting action, in combination with the twobackwardlyand forwardly swinging supporting bars A, the laterally extended feed'waysE, and the movable wor z-supporting table or carriage traveling on said ways, substantially as set forth.

In a machine for the purpose specified,

the combination, with the swing-frame having side bars A A suspended from the'm'erhead shaft, the wheel carrier frame disposed between said side bars,' flexibly connected thereto, and carrying the center shaft, grindershaft, griniiling-wheel, and driving-belts, as shown, of the vibrator-gears having wrist pins ad j ustable therein for v'aryingthe length of throw, connecting-rods from the wrist-pins pivoted to the opposite sides of said swingfraine, the actuating-gears, back shaft M, pulley M and belt m, substantiailyjas de- "Scribed, for rotating said vibrator-gems,

and for the purpose set forth. 1 4.111 a machine for the purpose specified, the combination, with the swing-frame suspended from the overhead shaft and the tilt ing carrier flexibly connected with said swingframe, as shown, of the center shaft, its jour rial-bearings formingthe hinge or fulcrum axisfor said carrier, the grindei shal't carrying a grinding .or polishing wheel mounted in hearings on said carrier, driving-bolts for ro tatin'g said shaft and wheel, the feedway or guiding tracks extending laterally in relation to the swing of said'frammau-d the work-supporting carriage movable longitudinally on i said tracks, substantially as set forth.

5.111 a machine for the purpose specified, the combination of the swing-frame suspended from the overhead driving-shaft, the upwardly and downwardly swinging grindercarric r flexiblyconnected thereto, the center shaft, the grinder shaft and wheel supported or the rear end of said carrieigthc work-supporting carriage running on ihc transversely disposed feedway-guidcs, vibrating gear for i imparting motion to said swing-frame, and feed-actuating mechanism automatically operated from said swing-frame fol-imparting illOVOlllOllt to said carriage, substantially as set forth. H

h. in l-lllilClllllG-UP the purpose specified, the combinationfla 1th the swing-frame, tilb" lug ca1'ri'i',ai1(1 grindmgevhcel, andlaterallymoving carriage provided with a ratchet or ITO engaging devices, of the reciprocating bar and pawl or its equivalent, and the actu atinglever operated by said swing-frame to eifect movement of said carriage, as set forth.

7. The combination of a plurality of grinders, each comprising a swing-frame, and a tilting carrier provided with a grinding-wheel mounted and operating thereon, a feedway common to said grinders, a carriage adapted for sustaining a scraper-blade or uneven plate, movable on said feedway for advancing it forward beneath the several grindingwheels, and mechanisms, substantially as described, for automatically imparting pendulous motion to said grinders and for advancing said carriage, as and for the purpose set forth.

8.- In a machine for the purpose specified,

the removable carriage adapted for supporting a road-scraper-blade plate, in combination with swinging frame, tilting grinder-carrier, grinding mechanism, the carriage guiding-way, and feed-actuating mechanism, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth. I

9. In a machine for the purpose specified, the combination, with the carriage,its guideway and feed-operating lever and ratchet, ot

' an engaging pawl and pawl-supporter for connected therewith for starting and stopping moving said carriage, and a throw-off lever the feed of the carriage, substantially as set forth. a

10. In a machine for the purpose specified, the combination, with the carriage F, its ratchet f, of the reciprocating bar H, carryported by inclined guides i, and the shifting- .lever Z, substantially as set forth.

11. In a machine for the purpose specified, the journal-supporting boxesA for the censupporting-boxes A attached. to the carrier and mounted on said extensions, in combination with the swing-frame and tilting carrier, substantially as set forth.

12. In a machine for the purpose specified, the yielding journal-boxes for supporting the grinder-shaft, in combination with the rockcarriage, substantially as set forth.

grinder carrier-frame G flexibly connected thereto and having the grinding-wheel shaft mounted in journal-boxes at one of its ends and handles 0 at its other end, of the adjustfor temporarily sustaining said carrier with the grinding-wheel elevated.

Witness myhand this 26th day of March, A. D. 1889. v

GEORGE WARNER TAFT. lVitnesses:

WM. L. LANG, S. J ONES PHILIPS.

ing the pawl h, the shifting-frame K, sup

ing carrier swing-frameand work-supporting able stop-dog O, substantially as described,

ter shaft provided with extensions, and the 13. In a machine for the purpose specified, the combination, with the swing-frame A and 

